초록 ▼

A limited slip differential for an automotive vehicle includes a torque input differential pinion carrier, two differential side gears and a pair of torque output axle half shafts. The differential also includes at least one friction clutch assembly having first friction clutch plates connected driv

A limited slip differential for an automotive vehicle includes a torque input differential pinion carrier, two differential side gears and a pair of torque output axle half shafts. The differential also includes at least one friction clutch assembly having first friction clutch plates connected driveably to the differential pinion carrier and second friction clutch plates connected driveably to one of the side gears. An annular pressure chamber is defined in the carrier. An annular piston is movably supported within the pressure chamber and adjacent the friction plates of the friction clutch assembly. The limited slip differential further includes a positive displacement gear pump having pumping elements defining high pressure and low pressure ports whereby pressure in the pressure chamber creates a force on the piston that engages a clutch assembly to effect a friction torque bias in the differential through the friction clutch assembly. The piston includes at least one flow control orifice through which fluid may flow from the high pressure port of the positive displacement gear pump via the annular pressure chamber and a thermal compensating valve that is mounted on the piston and is operable to decrease the flow area of the flow control orifice upon increasing temperature. Furthermore, the thermal compensating valve is also operable to increase the flow area of the flow control orifice upon decreasing temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A limited slip differential for an automotive vehicle, said limited slip differential comprising:a torque input differential pinion carrier, two differential side gears and a pair of torque output axel half-shafts; at least one friction clutch assembly including first clutch friction plates conne

1. A limited slip differential for an automotive vehicle, said limited slip differential comprising:a torque input differential pinion carrier, two differential side gears and a pair of torque output axel half-shafts; at least one friction clutch assembly including first clutch friction plates connected drivably to the differential pinion carrier and second clutch friction plates connected drivably to one of said side gears; an annular pressure chamber defined in said carrier, an annular piston movably supported within said pressure chamber and adjacent the friction plates of said friction clutch assembly; a positive displacement gear pump having pumping elements defining high pressure and low pressure ports whereby pressure in said pressure chamber creates a force on said piston that engages said clutch assembly to effect a friction torque bias in the differential through said friction clutch assembly; said piston including at least one flow control orifice through which fluid may flow from said high pressure port of said positive displacement gear pump via said annular pressure chamber and a thermal compensating valve that is mounted on said piston, said thermal compensating valve including a slide valve plate movable linearly relative to said piston and having a flow metering edge which is positioned over the flow control orifice in said piston such that movement of said slide valve plate changes the effective fluid flow area of said orifice as a function of the temperature of the hydraulic fluid so that said thermal compensating valve is operable to decrease the flow area of said flow control orifice upon increasing temperature and is operable to increase the flow area of said flow control orifice upon decreasing temperature to control the flow of pumped hydraulic fluid from said pressure chamber and thereby control the torque bias in said differential.